Improvement in washing-machines



-T. 1;. WEBSTER.

} Washing-Machine. N0. 161,186, Patented Ma1rch 23 ,1875-.

WITNESSES INVENTOR I I %&o%Mi2iZ va,

THE GRAPHIC C0.PHU TO.-LITH.39&4'I PARK PLAGEJLY.

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THOMAS J. WEBSTER, OF HUMBOLDT, KANSAS.

IMPROVEMENT IN WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 161,186, dated March23, 1875; application filed November 28, 1874.

To all whom it may concern Be it known thatI, THoMAs J. WEBSTER, ofHumboldt, in the county of Allen and State of Kansas, have invented anew and valuable Improvement in Washing-Machines; and I do herebydeclare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description ofthe-construction and operation of the same, reference being had to theannexed drawings making a part of this specification, and to the lettersand figures of reference marked thereon.

Figure 1 of the drawing is a representation of an end view of mywashing-machine. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the same, andFig. 3 is a detail View.

This invention has relation to washing-machines, wherein are employed asuds-box with a semicircular bottom and a rotating dasher actuated bymeans of a handle, and having its bearings in the vertical sides of thesudsbox; and the nature of the invention consists mainly in groovedanti-friction wheels, freely rotating upon the ends of the rock-shaftsupporting the hangers of a rotating dasher and squeezer, one oftheflanges of which is adapted to be received into a corresponding recessin the upper edges of the vertical sides of the suds-box, whereby thedasher is held steady in the said box, and the lateral surfaces of thesaid hangers are prevented from rubbing against the sides thereof,thereby preventing undue friction, and greatly adding to the ease andcomfort in working the dasher, as will be hereinafter more fullyexplained.

In the annexed drawings, A designates the suds-box of myimprovedclothes-washin g machine, having a metallic bottom, a, preferably ofzinc or galvanized iron, which is rigidly secured in any suitable mannerto the lower rounding edges of its vertical sides at. These sidesterminate in projecting arms I), which serve as handles, whereby themachine may be lifted conveniently from place to place. They also affordbearings for the journals of two vibrating shelves, B, which are adaptedto be swung outward into the position shown in Fig. 2, for convenientlyputting the clothes in the box, and then to be swung inward to preventwater from being dashed out of the box upon the person of the laundress,or upon surrounding objects. Within this box a transversely-corrugatedbottom, 0, is rigidly secured, which is made up of sectional strips 0,secured together in anysuitable manner, forming a perfectaccurately-drawn arc, as shown in Fig. 2.

The suds-box above described is supported by legs 0, rigidly secured tothe sides thereof, the upper angular corners of which are received intocorrespondiugly-shaped spaces cut into the lower edges of verticalstandards D, which are also rigidly secured to the sides of the saidsuds-box, thus adding strength to the union of the said legs to the box,and effectually preventing their upward displacement when subjected tothe strain of the waterand clothing therein.

The standards D, above referred to, are vertically and deeply notched atd, as shown. in Fig. 1, for a purpose hereinafter explained.

E designates the frame of a rotating dasher, F, consisting of twoparallel hangers, c, affording bearings in their lower ends for thejournals of the said dasher, and suitably braced by a handle, 0, as totheir upper ends. Through these hangers a horizontal shaft, F, ispassed, the said shaft being rigidly secured thereto, and prevented fromrotation by havin g its squared ends fitted into corresponding aperturesin the said hangers. These ends project a certain distance beyond thehangers, and terminate in cylindrical journals f, into which are securedmetallic journals f, of preferably reduced size, upon which are appliedgrooved anti-friction wheels G. The grooves 13 of the said wheels are ofconsiderable depth, and the inner faces of their flanges j j arevertical to the axis thereof;

When the dasher F is placed in position in the suds-box, thebifurcations of the standards D receive the said wheels between them,their inner flanges j being upon the inside, and their outer flanges jupon the outside thereof, as

shown in Fig. 3. The inner flanges are received into semicircularrecesses Zin the upper edges of the vertical sides of the suds-box, andthe journals fhave their bearings in that portion of the upper edge ofthe vertical sides of the press-box between the recesses l and theinside thereof. In this manner, when the dasher is actuated in washingclothing, it will be held steady in the suds-box, being prevented fromlateral displacement by the bifur-V cated standards D, within which thewheels G are received, and from endwise displacement by the engagementof the inner flanges j of the said wheels with the recesses l of thesuds-box.

The dasher-frame being of slightly less width than the box, and beingplaced therein so that the lateral faces of its hangers shallv not touchthe sides of the said box, all friction of the said hangers against theside of the box is efl'ectually prevented.

S designates springs, which are rigidly secured to the box at it, theirfree ends being detachably secured to the ends of the journal f, sothat, when the dasher F passes over a button on the garment beingwashed, it will cause the springs to yield, thereby doing away with afrequent cause of complaint-that is, the smashing of buttons.

The dasher F consists of two disks, h, into which are suitably securedradial buckets h, as shown in Fig. 3, the said buckets having roundingouter edges 0, which are adapted to be received into the grooves of thecorrugated inner bottom 0.

When the dasher is actuated, not only is the clothing squeezed by therounded edges 0 of the buckets, but the latter throw the water over theclothing after the manner of the paddle-wheel of a steamer, before thesqueezing or wringing action of the ends of the said buckets takesplace, thus effectually and rapidly removing all impurities.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with the hangers e of the rotating dasher and squeezerF, and with the vertical sides a of suds-box A, of the groovedpulley-wheels G, upon the ends of the rockshaft f, substantially asspecified.

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS J. WEBSTER.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM A. WEBSTER, OHAs. GILBERT.

